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Understanding Fiber Optics
Cla
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Optical Fiber Types

Optical Fiber Types
Co
re Fiber
Fiber Optic
Optic Transmission Optical
Optical Connector
Connectors
nnector
Visible Light Fiber Transmission Wavelength Range

Windows
(IR = Infrared)

iber Types
Main Type Characteristics Typical Dimensions Lightwave Propagation Index
Profile
Transmission
Single-mode - Low attenuation
- 1260 to 1640 nm transmission wavelengths
8 µm
to 12 µm
125 µm 250 to
900 µm
n1 ‰ 1.457 Windows Wavelength (nm)

Transmission
- Access/medium/long haul networks (>200 km) Connector Types* Name Applications
- Nearly infinite bandwidth 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
n2 ‰ 1.471

Windows
Datacom,
635 850 1300 /1310 1383 1490 1550 1625 FC-PC / FC-APC Telecommunication,
Multimode - High attenuation 50 µm 125 µm n1 ‰ 1.540
(graded index) - 850 to 1300 nm transmission wavelengths 62.5 µm 250 to CATV
- Local networks (<2 km)
900 µm Attenuation (dB/km)
- Limited bandwidth
Datacom,
n2 ‰ 1.540
to 1.562 10 SC-PC / SC-APC Telecommunication,
CATV, LAN
Refractive Index: A measure of the speed of light in a material. The n1 and n2 are the respective refractive index of the cladding and the core.
n1<n2 is the condition for the light to travel down the fiber.
Index Profile: Variations of the refractive index along a fiber diameter. First Window Water Peaks Second/Third Window E2000-PC / E2000-APC Telecommunication,
(Ferrule diameter : 1.25 mm) Datacom, CATV, LAN

ITU Fiber Standard Description Applications NSWP Single-mode Fiber

O E S C L U High-density interconnection,
LC-PC / LC-APC
Datacom,
Characteristics of a 50/125 mm Video and Datacom in premises networks. LWP Single-mode Fiber (Ferrule diameter : 1.25 mm)
Telecommunication, CATV
G.651 multimode-graded index Up to 10 GigE transmission in local area networks (up to 300 m).
optical fibre cable. Wavelength coverage: 850 to 1300 nm 1
From access to long-haul networks. Supports high-bit-rate Inter-/Intra-building,
G.652 Class A/B Characteristics of single-mode ST-PC Security, Navy, Datacom,
transmission (10 Gbps and +, 10 GigE…). Suitable for DWDM and CWDM systems.
G.652 Class C/D optical fiber and cable Rayleigh Scattering LAN
Wavelength coverage: 1260 to 1625 nm.
IR Absorption
Characteristics of non-zero- Transmission applications at high bit rates for STM-64/OC-192 (10 Gbps) over longer
G.655 Class C Datacom,
dispersion-shifted single-mode distances. Suitable for STM-256/OC-568 (40 Gbps). Supports DWDM transmission
G.655 Class D Telecommunication,
applications in the C+L bands. MU-PC / MU-APC
G.655 Class E optical fiber and cable.
Wavelength coverage: 1550 to 1625 nm. CATV
Support optimized access network installation with very short bending radii applied
Characteristics of bending loss
G.657 Class A in fiber management systems and particularly for indoor and outdoor installation,
insensitive single-mode optical fiber Tatacom,
G.657 Class B particularly in FTTx networks. MT-RJ (Ribbon fiber)
and cable for the access network.
Wavelength coverage: 1260 to 1625 nm.
0.1 LAN

Wavelength (nm)
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 LAN, Datacom, Medical
Typical Fiber Cables A cable consists of optical fibers surrounded by materials that provide them with mechanical and environmental protection Biconic instrumentation, Remote,
Sensing, Telemetry, CATV
Possible fillers
Cable
s (Indoor)
(Out
door) Fiber Cables Attenuation is the result of a variety of scattering and absorption mechanisms and is
be les bon
Tu
Outer jacket
b
Outer jacket
Rib Outer jacket
Band Description Wavelength Range wavelength-dependent.
ed Ca Datacom,
Overall polyester barrier Aramid yarn
r

Dielectric strength
e
ffe

ub

members Single-mode optical fibers are designed to operate over a wide range of wavelengths, DIN-PC / DIN-APC Telecommunication,
t Bu

O
eT

Water-proof tape Flooded core Original (Second Window) 1260 to 1360 nm

Loos

CATV
Tigh

Buffer tube
therefore, the attenuation measurement is performed as a function of wavelength, typically
Thermoplastic Thermoplastic
jacket jacket
Ribbon
E Extended 1360 to 1460 nm between 1200 nm and 1625 nm.
Aramid Moisture Fiber optic transmission uses the three optical windows (850,1300, 1550 nm) provided by * Non-exhaustive list
strength element blocking gel
S Short Wavelengths 1460 to 1530 nm the attenuation characteristics of the silica fibers.
Central member FRP strength member
Also, 635 nm light is used for visible fault location. Before Cleaning After Cleaning
900 microns of tight buffered fibers Multiple 250 micron fibers
C Conventional ("erbium window") 1530 to 1565 nm
Remote fiber testing uses a wavelength of 1625 nm or above to avoid disturbing traffic.
L Long Wavelengths 1565 to 1625 nm
Optical Connection Inspection
Applications: Computer rooms, telecommunications Applications: Building interconnections, telecommunications, Typical applications: equipment interconnect,
central offices, tunnels and confined areas, and riser shafts. data trunk, long haul networks, and ducts between buildings. high-speed data transfer, premises network… Rayleigh Scattering: light energy is scattered in all directions causing loss.
A tight buffered tube cable can hold 1 to 12 fibers For applications requiring moisture and weather resistance. Loose Ribbon cables can hold 204 fibers in a 0.5-inch cable. U NSWP: non-suppressed water peak.
Ultra-long Wavelengths 1625 to 1675 nm It is very important to clean connectors.
per tube (up to 200 fibers in one cable). tube cable can hold 1 to 12 fibers per tube (up to 200 fibers This picture shows a 3000 fiber underground cable. LWP: low water peak (for example, G.652.D fiber). A dirty connector will dramatically increase the power loss.
in one cable).
Inspect your connector before and after cleaning using a videoscope.

Optical Transmission
tical Transmission
Physical Contact (PC) Connector Angled Physical Contact (APC) Connector
Optical Transmission −15 to −25 dBm
LED and Laser Diode Power Spectral

0 to −10 dBm +5 to −10 dBm

Measurement Units : Watts, dB, or dBm ≈ 8°

FWHM
100 nm
FWHM
3 nm <<1 nm Absolute Power (mW) Absolute Power (dBm)
1000 +30
100 +20
Optical Loss Budget 10 +10
5 +7
Consider network topology and equipment specifications Optical loss budget must consider both link loss and system power margins 1300 1300 1300 y (nm) 1 0
Insertion Loss: 0 to 0.5 dB Insertion Loss: 0 to 0.5 dB
when installing a fiber network. One major parameter to to allow for the effects of environment, aging, and eventual repairs. LED FP Laser Diode DFB Laser Diode
0,5 −3
Optical Return Loss: >40 dB Optical Return Loss: >60 dB
(MLM Laser) (SLM Laser)
measure is optical loss budget, or end-to-end optical link loss. 0,1 −10
Fiber type used and the characteristics of the source limit system performance. The narrower Insertion Loss (IL): Loss in transmitted signal power resulting from the insertion of a component in an optical fiber link.
Consider the source, detector, and optical transmission line Use the typical values for various components to calculate link loss budgets. 0,01 −20
the spectral bandwidth of the source diode, the higher the possible system frequency Optical Return Loss (ORL): Ratio of the reflected power to the incident power from a fiber optic link or system,
when calculating the optical loss budget of a fiber link. bandwidth/bit rate. 0,001 −30
expressed as a positive value.
LED: Short-haul and low bit rate (LAN networks) systems that use multimode fibers. 0,0001 −40
Example of a typical single-mode system Laser Diode: Long-haul and high bit rate systems that use single-mode fibers.
(1) Average Transmitter (Tx) output optical power: 0 dBm A Total connector Loss = 0.5 dB x number of connector pairs Multi-Longitudinal Mode (MLM) lasers, also known as Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers and Single
Longitudinal Mode (SLM) or Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers are used for these applications.
(2) Minimum Receiver (Rx) sensitivity: −20 dBm
B Total fiber Loss = loss per km x fiber distance Loss (dB) Power (%) Connector Mating
(1) – (2) Maximum optical loss budget: 20 dB
1310 nm ≈ 0.35 dB/km Photodetectors Spectral Response −0,10 2 Plug Pair Plug Pair
1550 nm ≈ 0.2 dB/km S y (A/W) −0,20 5
InGaAs
1.0 −0,35 8
Si Ge (23°C) −1 20
C Total splice Loss = 0, 1 dB x number of splices
Network Ge (0°C) −3 50
Tx Rx D Total other components loss = loss x number of components 0.5 −6 75
(Link Loss) Hybrid Mating Adapter Key Mating Adapter Ferrule Key
Mechanical splice ≈ 0.5 dB −10 90
−20 99
1:2 splitter ≈ 3.5 dB
y (nm)
1:32 splitter ≈ 17 dB 850 1300 1550

Si: Silicon for applications in the visible light range (400 to 1000 nm) dB: quantify gain or loss dBm: specify absolute power levels
Ge: Germanium for applications in optical windows (750 to 1600 nm) P1 P1

Understanding Fiber Optics

InGaAs: Induim Galium Arsenide for applications in optical windows (>1000 nm) dB = 10 log (P1 and P2 expressed in watts) P(dBm) = 10 log (P1 expressed in mW)
P2 1 mW

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